Legacy
By
Jeslyn Nighthawk
A/N: Yay! People are actually reading my fic! This is quite the motivation to keep writing. Anyway, here's Chapter 2, enjoy.
Disclaimer: Don't own Harry Potter and that means no Severus Snape. Oh well.
Chapter 2
They all stopped at an inn that night that was halfway between Amelia's home and London. It was a small inn, but clean, with roaring fires, and good food. The girls would be sharing a room; Harry would have one down the hall.
The girls' room was small with only one bed, but neither minded. The heat and light of the fire combined with the rich chestnut wood to create a warm and comforting atmosphere. It was an atmosphere that Hermione greatly needed.
For all that Hermione had been in Gryffindor, she had never felt that she was all that brave. Truthfully, she had thought she would have done better in Ravenclaw. However, this was the only time in her entire life that Hermione could remember having a case of nerves. She was terrified. She was also very vocal in her discomfort towards her hooligan cousin.
Tears streamed down her face as she railed at said cousin, "How am I supposed to be you?! What if some one recognizes me? You are supposed to be a beauty, all the rumors say so! I am not the least bit fashionable! I don't want to be!" It seemed to Amelia that all the fight went out of her cousin then; "I don't want to be," Hermione said again in a broken whisper, "I cannot do this."
At this Amelia rushed to her cousin and wrapped her in a warm embrace. "Of course you can, 'Mione, of course you can. It is not forever, only until Daddy returns from France. And if you do this, Harry and I can be together. I know you can. We need you and you have never before failed us when we were in need. You never will. What kind of Gryffindor would talk like that?"
"One who would have been better off in Ravenclaw!" Hermione sobbed.
"Nonsense. The Sorting Hat put you in Gryffindor for a reason. Look at me Hermione!" Amelia nearly took a step back when she saw the unbridled terror in her cousin's eyes, "You can do this, and you will." Amelia stated firmly, "You have given your word, and no member of this family would dare break her word. Do you understand me?"
Hermione nodded. Amelia could see her shoring up her courage. Hermione's sense of honor would allow no less. Finally, the two prepared for sleep. Tomorrow morning they would part.
***
The three friends parted at dawn the next morning. Harry and Amelia would double back towards Gretna Green, while Hermione would continue on to London and her Aunt Minerva's home.
It was a nerve racking ride for Hermione. The few memories she had of her Aunt Minerva were of a very stern, very proper, and very fashionable dowager of the ton. The imposing figure in her mind became a terrible monster as the drive wore on, and as the carriage approached Lady McGonagall's home in London, Hermione was wringing her cousins fine velvet cloak in her sweaty hands.
When the cloak was taken from her, Hermione began to wring her hands. The townhouse of the Duchess of Myrwood was as imposing as the Lady. Deep mahogany wood carvings adorned walls, windows, stairs, and furniture, yet somehow managed to avoid being garish. The drapes and hangings were all in deep shades of green, as was the carpet, giving the old home the strange feel of the enchanted woods its Lady presided over. As she was shown into the Duchess's study, Hermione felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end.
To say that Hermione was shocked by her aunt's appearance would be an understatement. Minerva McGonagall, Duchess of Myrwood, was an imposing figure. She was not tall, but she had an imposing figure. Her hawk-like features were accentuated by the severe bun she had her steel-grey hair pulled into and the spectacles resting low on her nose. That, however, was not what shocked her. What shocked her was that over the severe cut of Lady McGonagall's emerald green day dress, was a set of matching green wizard's robes.
Hermione had had no idea that her aunt was a witch, and frankly, that fact made her no less terrifying to the trembling young woman.
Lady McGonagall scrutinized the young lady before her. What she found was not unpromising. When last she had seen the girl, Hermione had not yet been enrolled in Hogwarts. The girl then had been scrawny with bushy untamable hair and bucked teeth. Time had been kind to her. Hermione was now a beautiful young woman. Although with doe brown eyes and chestnut hair she was not a fashionable beauty, Hermione had quite a bit of potential. Her bushy hair had become riotous curls, and (likely due to a spell) her teeth were now perfectly straight and pearly white giving her a beautiful smile. She had well defined features, and her heart-shaped face lent her an air of innocence. Though terrified, Hermione held herself with quiet grace and confidence. Minerva guessed that this young woman could be quite bossy when she felt more herself, and she was reminded of herself in her younger years. Yes, Minerva thought, I think she will do quite well; Amelia was right.
"Well Hermione, you've certainly grown up since I last saw you," Minerva said in her most stern voice.
"Thank you, my lady," Hermione replied in a demure voice. Minerva wasn't buying it.
"Come now, child. Surely Albus and that school of his were able to give you at least some backbone. From what I heard, you were the top student. I doubt that being demure got you very far as Head Girl."
"Of course not!" Hermione snapped, forgetting her fear for a moment, "But then neither did being a bossy bookworm! And I doubt that will do me any good here either, as it is entirely unfashionable!"
Minerva felt herself smiling at the young witch, "Good, you do have some spine. As to what is fashionable, this family decides what is fashionable. If I say that it is the thing this year for a young woman to be both beautiful and educated, then all of the mommas will flock to ensure that their chicks measure up. It's one of the benefits of my rank. And as you are both, I have no doubt that you will be a smash this Season."
Hermione's eyes widened in shock. "You must be joking. I am no beauty. Besides I have no interest in being a smash."
"I don't doubt it. However, you agreed to play your cousin. Despite the fact that no one in Society has seen her in years, as my niece she was expected to be a great success this year. You will have to live up to that," Minerva could see the fear rising in the child once again. She took pity on her, "I am not asking you to go against your personality. Truthfully, I would like for you to be yourself. With my help we can have you clothed to perfection by the end of the week, and you can have your debut ball here next weekend. We'll have into Almack's in no time. For all I know that you have no interest in marriage, dear, it certainly wouldn't hurt for you to look. Life is long child. The right husband can make those years a blessing."
Hermione was looking at her aunt with great skepticism. At least she is listening, Minerva thought, Oh, I do hope you were not wrong, Amelia. I hope she can find someone to ease her loneliness here. I certainly hope so.
Hermione finally nodded her assent, and that began the week's preparation.
TBC
A/N: Thanks all who read. Please keep the reviews coming, they really do keep me writing.
Review Responses:
klo: Thanks. And I don't think that Hermione will swoon, but how could she resist being attracted to him? I mean that voice! Thanks again for the review.
Deliah Serpent: Thank you and I hope this one lived up to expectations.
Clavel: I hope I don't disappoint.
Meriadoc/Celithrathien: As for the non-regency slang, it will become more abundant as I move more into my own style, but I shall try to remain as authentic and accurate as I can. Thanks for the input; I hope this chapter was as good.